Leprosy or Hansen's Disease, is a disease that affects primarily the skin and nerves. It was discovered in 1874 by a Norwegian physician Gerhard Henrik Armauer Hansen.The disease was thought to have started somewhere in India and then was past on to Africa and Europe. In the late 1800's leprosy was very common throughout Europe. It became less and less through Europe and spread to areas of Africa that had bad nutrition and unhealthy living environments. Today the disease is not very common. Worldwide it is estimated that only five percent of the population is susceptible. There are not many cases of leprosy reported each year. Scientists are now able to grow the bacte